Method and system for determining the effective yardage to a golf pin

ABSTRACT

A sensor and wireless communication technologies are implemented to make it possible to assemble a golf ball like device, which can be lofted into the air in order to monitor atmospheric conditions, such as wind strength, wind speed, temperature, elevation (height), altitude, barometric pressure and the like. These atmospheric parameters are displayed on the hand held device in graphic and tabular form. In an embodiment of the present invention, the distance to an object is provided in view of one or more parameters of atmospheric conditions.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority to provisional Patent Application No. 60/654,000 filed Feb. 18, 2005, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method, a system and a computer program product for determining atmospheric conditions and yardage for golfing. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method, a device and a computer program product for determining atmospheric conditions that exist on a golf course at the time a golfer is approaching a hole to measure true distance to a pin.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Golfers require an understanding of a variety of conditions in playing the game of golf. In particular, a golfer often estimates the effect of wind strength and direction, the effect of temperature, altitude, barometric pressure, the distance to the green and the topology of the green, e.g., its height above the fairway. These estimates, particularly for wind strength and direction, often are inaccurate and lead to poor drives that result in lost golf balls and as a consequence penalty strokes. The inability to correctly estimate the playing conditions thus reduces a golfer's enjoyment of the game as a game of skill and overall handicap.

Techniques have been developed to accurately estimate playing conditions and course topology. One technique implements a device for determining distance to a green using ultrasound. This technique also measures wind conditions and provides wind corrected distance and direction for golf drives. Furthermore, the technique recommends the appropriate golf club for the wind conditions. Another technique implements a portable, low-cost range finder adaptable to measuring distances on a golf course or for measuring distances to objects in military applications. In general, these technologies do not offer a means to monitor the variation in wind velocity with height above ground. Similarly temperature may change with height or altitude and barometric pressure. There is a need for a means to monitor the actual atmospheric conditions while playing the game of golf.

Accordingly, there is a need for a method of determining the atmospheric conditions of a golf course. There is a need for the method to determine atmospheric conditions while playing the game of golf or practicing at a range. There is a need for the method to be implemented using a hand-held device. There is a need for the method to determine conditions on a golf course including, but not limited to, wind direction and velocity, temperature, barometric pressure, ground distance, ground elevation and altitude. There is a need for the method to display the parameters of a condition in graphic and tabular form. There is a need for the method to implement sensor technologies in wireless communication that enable a golf ball like device to be lofted into the air in order to monitor various atmospheric conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to embodiments of the present invention, a method, a device and a computer program product for determining atmospheric conditions and yardage for golfing. The method implements sensor and wireless communication technologies that make it possible to assemble a golf ball like device, which can be lofted into the air in order to monitor atmospheric conditions, such as wind strength, wind speed, temperature, elevation (height), altitude, barometric pressure and the like. These atmospheric parameters are displayed on the hand held device in graphic and tabular form. In an embodiment of the present invention, the distance to an object is provided in view of one or more parameters of atmospheric conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above described features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated with reference to the detailed description and appended figures in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary functional block diagram of a device in which the present invention can find application; and

FIG. 2 depicts exemplary diagrams

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is now described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show embodiments of the present invention. The present invention, however, may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to embodiments set forth herein. Appropriately, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention.

According to embodiments of the present invention, a method, a device and a computer program product for determining atmospheric conditions and yardage for golfing. The method implements sensor and wireless communication technologies that make it possible to assemble a golf ball like device, which can be lofted into the air in order to monitor atmospheric conditions, such as wind strength, wind speed, temperature, elevation (height), altitude, barometric pressure and the like. These atmospheric parameters are displayed on the hand held device in graphic and tabular form. In an embodiment of the present invention, the distance to an object is provided in view of one or more parameters of atmospheric conditions.

FIG. 1 depicts a functional block diagram of system in which the present invention can find application. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, system 100 can be implemented to determine distance and atmospheric conditions of a golf course. In an embodiment of the present invention distance includes, but is not limited to, ground distance, ground elevation, and effective distance. In the FIG. 1 embodiment of the present invention, effective distance corresponds to the actual distance to an object taking into consideration one or more parameters of atmospheric conditions. In an embodiment of the present invention, atmospheric conditions include, but are not limited to, wind strength, wind direction, altitude, barometric pressure, and temperature.

In the FIG. 1 embodiment, system 100 is an integrated system that includes a processor (CPU) 102, imager 106, memory 112, data 116, display 114, distance monitor 110, launcher 108 and ball sensor 104. In the FIG. 1 embodiment, imager 106 includes is a CCD camera, such as the Scout®, but can be any camera that generates digital images and/or line images, and provides the digital images for processing by a CPU using software operable to evaluate and generate results based on the digital images and/or line images as well as data obtained from the distance monitor 110, launcher 108 and ball sensor 104. In the FIG. 1 embodiment of the present invention, imager 106 is used to follow or track ball sensor 104 and take images of the ball sensor 104 once launched into the atmosphere. In an embodiment of the present invention, imager 104 takes n images, where n<10. In the FIG. 1 embodiment of the present invention, the imager 106 includes a lens. In an embodiment of the present invention, the lens can be made of plastic. In an embodiment of the present invention, the lens can be any one of, but is not limited to, a conventional concave lens and a cylindrical (barrel) lens. In an embodiment of the present invention, the lens enhances the ambient lighting conditions found on golf courses.

In the FIG. 1 embodiment of the present invention, the ball sensor 104 can be a device that can be lofted into the air in order to monitor various atmospheric conditions. In an embodiment of the present the device is configured in the shape of a golf ball. For example, the golf ball can include miniaturized, wireless microelectomechanical sensors (MEMS) such as those developed by Prof. Kristofer Pister (UC Berkeley), so called “smart dust.” In an embodiment of the present invention, the information provided by ball sensor 104 is received in memory by wirelessly transmitting the information from the ball sensor 104 using a transceiver. In an embodiment of the present invention, the launcher 108 can be used to loft ball sensor into the atmosphere. In the FIG. 1 embodiment of the present invention, the launcher 108 can be physically integrated with the CCD imager 100 such that the two are aligned in direction. In an embodiment of the present invention, the launcher is separate from the CCD imager 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the launcher 108 can loft ball sensor 104 into the atmosphere at a variety of angles.

In the FIG. 1 embodiment of the present invention, the distance monitor 110 can be used to determine distance in the x direction for distance and in the y direction for elevation. In an embodiment of the present invention, the distance monitor 110 is integrated into system 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the distance monitor 110 is a separate system coupled to the system 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the distance is determined by using a light emitting source and a lens. In an embodiment of the present invention, the light emitting sources include, but are not limited to, a solid state laser or light emitting diodes (LED). In an embodiment of the present invention, the broadening of the light generated from the light emitting source is measured to determine the distance to an object. In an embodiment of the present invention, the length of the line image to an object is measured to determine the distance to an object.

In the FIG. 1 embodiment of the present invention, the imager 106, distance monitor 110 and ball sensor 104 receives information in a format suitable for processing by CPU 102 and provides the information to memory 112 for storage and processing by evaluation program 114. The CPU 102 is a microprocessor, such as an INTEL PENTIUM® or AMD® processor, but can be any processor that executes program instructions in order to carry out the functions of the present invention. In the FIG. 1 embodiment, the memory 112 is coupled to CPU 102 and stores evaluation program 114 and data 116. The data 116 includes, but is not limited to, images depicting an object, temperature, barometric pressure, altitude, wind speed, wind direction, and the like. In the FIG. 1 embodiment, the evaluation program 114 provides the functionality associated with determining distance and atmospheric conditions. In an embodiment of the present invention, the evaluation program 114 evaluates images of golf ball sensor 104 to determine the effect of wind as a function of height as executed by the CPU 102. For example, the position of the ball sensor 104 in the (x,y) plane of the imager indicates the effect of wind, such as a shift from the center (x,y) coordinates is due to wind and the time rate of change indicates the wind velocity. In an embodiment of the present invention, the distance to an object is determined in view of atmospheric conditions to determine an effective distance. The evaluation program 114 is designed to report the parameters for distance, height, altitude, wind speed, wind direction, temperature, barometric pressure and distance in view of any one of, or any combination of, altitude, wind speed, wind direction, temperature, and barometric pressure.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary graph of height in meters as a function of wind speed. FIG. 2 shows that as height increase wind speed increases.

While specific embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art that changes can be made to those embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while the present invention concentrates on a single, it is understood that information from a series of images, a moving object or a specific object might advantageously be used as well. Also, while our application to golf balls has us discussing UV and visible light, the method is not dependent on this choice. 

1. A method of determining golf swing characteristics comprising launching a sensor to determine at least one parameter relating to atmospheric conditions; obtaining the at least one parameter; determine a distance in the x plane in view of the obtained at least one parameter; where in the distance in the x plane employed to determine at least one characteristic of the swing.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the imaging circuitry is configured as a golf ball. position in the shaft of the golf club.
 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a distance based on a length between a point A and a point B.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is any one of: type of golf club, swing motion and degree of swing.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the atmospheric conditions include any one of: altitude, barometric pressure, temperature, wind speed and wind velocity. 